The South Carolina Freedom of Health Care Protection Act, also
known as the “nullification bill”, was passed 65-39 by the
Republican-dominated House on Wednesday. The bill would
“prohibit certain individuals from enforcing or attempting to
enforce such unconstitutional laws; and to establish criminal
penalties and civil liability for enforcing this article.”

Even though the Supreme Court ruled that the Affordable Care Act
is constitutional, the state legislation would declare the federal
law “null and void” and prosecute those who try to implement
it.

Under the nullification bill, the South Carolina State Attorney
General would be able “to restrain by temporary retraining
order, temporary injunction, or permanent injunction” anyone
who is believed to be “causing harm” by violating public
interest and trying to implement the federal law.

South Carolina residents who are forced to pay Obamacare taxes
“shall receive a deduction in the exact amount of the taxes or
penalty paid the federal government,” the bill states.
The measure would also outlaw local governments from creating or
working with non-profit health care exchanges, which the Obama
administration designed in order to help small businesses provide
insurance.

Obamacare has been heavily criticized by in South Carolina, with
Gov. Nikki Haley promising that the state will not allow its
implementation.

“Connecticut expanded early under ‘Obamacare’ and just
reported a $190 million Medicaid deficit – in spite of subjecting
their citizens to a massive tax increase,” she said during her
State of the State address. “California just raised taxes in
part to cover their Medicaid deficit and yet needs $350 million
more to pay for ‘Obamacare’ next year. That’s not us. That’s not
South Carolina.”

“To that end, we will not pursue the type of government-run
health exchanges being forced on us by Washington,” she said.
“Despite the rose-colored rhetoric coming out of DC, these
exchanges are nothing more than a way to make the state do the
federal government’s bidding in spending massive amounts of
taxpayer dollars on insurance subsidies that we can’t
afford.”

The Greenville Tea Party has hailed the House passage of the
nullification bill as a triumph in their fight against the
Affordable Care Act, with spokesman Chris Lawton expressing his
pride for the move.

“This kind of victory occurs when the grassroots across the
State come together and coalesce,” he told The Greenville Post.
“I could not be prouder.”

The nullification bill will now move to the state Senate, where
the Republican Party is also the majority. Most major provisions of
the Affordable Care Act are scheduled to go in effect by January
2014.